Have you caught the love letter bug? Check out More Love Letters, an organization after our own hearts. Their goal? To turn your best love letter into a lamp to light the path of someone who needs to read it. Find out more here.

We’ve met so many new friends and had a wonderful time visiting with many of the remarkable vendors that have made our latest issue such a success. It has been a very inspiring week! I was happier as a pup with two tails to be invited to speak here and happy as a pup with three tails to share about how we do things ’round here at Southern Weddings.

Photo by Scott Clark and Chellise Michael with Elan Artists

Y’all know we do things a little differently. We’re small… and mighty… and Southern. We do all the layout, shipping, shoot creation, cleaning up after our messes and everything ourselves. We’re a tiny team with more passion than a hen has feathers. But, I didn’t talk about just us in my speech… I talked about YOU.

You are why we are here. You cheer us on and write us encouraging notes and share our magazine with dear friends and we sincerely wouldn’t be where we are without our very loyal readers. So, I wanted to just say a quick thank you. I wish I could jump through my screen to hug each of you, too. Thank you for believing in us and being our cheerleaders. Thank you, most of all though, for LOVING.

It’s because you love your fiancé’s and husbands and families and this magical place we call home so much that we are inspired every day to do what we do and we have so much goodness ahead! We love y’all! You sweeten our tea!

MARISSA: Heavens, y’all! I don¹t even know where to start! 2012 has been a year full of amazing blessings and incredible challenges – and I’m so grateful for them all! I am so thankful for the talented women I am not only blessed to work with everyday, but am able to call my friends. L, E, E, N + K, thank you! For our sweet readers, and talented clients. For my loving family – especially my mama, who is always there for me no matter what. For my handsome husband, BDK: you are the definition of a Southern gentleman, and my dream come true. Lastly, for God’s incredible grace. Without that, I am nothing.

This year, I’ll be spending Thanksgiving with the Kloess side of my family. Since I come from a small family, spending the holidays with this crowd is always a joy! Let’s just say we are one big ol’ Southern family – so big the dinner table has to be made of card tables and random chairs! Traditionally, my FIL deep fries a turkey in the backyard, and we celebrate with all the fixin’s, from homemade pecan pie to sweet potato casserole. I can’t wait! Even though I’ll miss my family and our traditions, I’m so thankful to have such wonderful in-laws to spend the holidays with.

NICOLE: This year, I am overwhelmed by how much there is to be thankful for! I’m so grateful for a loving family that gives me strength and some hilarious stories to tell and for terrific friends and a boyfriend who make me feel at home no matter where I am. I’m grateful for an amazing job that has filled my days with creativity and love and for a degree from the best University on the planet. Lastly, I’m grateful for my mom’s cooking, pug faces and Pantone. I’m heading to Charlotte today to bake pies and celebrate the holiday with my mom’s side of the family. Inevitably, there will be much debate over what to include in our Christmas lists and a lot of planning for my sister’s October 2013 wedding!

ALEXIA: I am thankful for my wonderful family, beautiful friends and unforgettable experiences at Southern Weddings this semester. I am also grateful for sweet tea, starry nights, cowboy boots and red velvet cupcakes. I am spending Thanksgiving at my grandparents’ house surrounded by family, laughter and of course a little pumpkin pie :)

EMILY: As usual, my gratitude cup overflows, which is something I’m grateful for in and of itself! I am so very thankful to call John my husband (after seven years of having a boyfriend – ha!) and for the person he is; for my parents, my siblings, and my parents and siblings in law (or, my parents and siblings in love, as one of my friends likes to say); for a God who in ALL things works for the good of those who love Him and for a church family that reminds me of that; for my sweet kitties and our warm house; for the health of those I love; for the blessing of living in this beautiful, amazing country; and for my job that I love so very much, and the amazing ladies with whom I get to work. Also, chocolate chunk pecan cookies. Yep, definitely thankful for those.

This year John and I are hosting Thanksgiving in North Carolina for my parents and one of my sisters. We’ll be a small group with entirely too much food, but I don’t really consider that a problem :)

KRISTIN: Thanksgiving 2012 marks my first married Thanksgiving, and I am looking forward to celebrating with my favorite husband and our amazing families. It is a well-known fact that I love ALL holidays and love to celebrate in BIG ways. On Thursday we will be crisscrossing the state of NC to celebrate, and I am responsible for bringing official ‘dishes’ to both meals as a reward for getting married (my late Grandma Jewell’s green bean-corn casserole serious deliciousness and a family tradition for my family and a sweet potato casserole for KPW’s). Thanksgiving day is sure to be overflowing with family, laughter, all my favorite foods*, and a nap, along with countless chances to reflect on all my many blessings.

During this sweet season of Thanksgiving I am reminded of the never ending listing of things that I am thankful for including, but not limited to, continued daily grace, my husband and our freshly-made marriage, our family, health, the SW family, the sunshine, and being able to find joy in each day. Hope y’all have a blessed Thanksgiving. Bring on the mashed potatoes!! PS: *Seriously. The food. We served Thanksgiving dinner at our wedding reception because it is our absolute favorite meal. I can’t wait.

The Umstead Hotel and Spa was conceived and built with the muses of Art and Nature. These inspirations paired with impeccable, sincere service make for an exquisite hideaway that will comfort and rejuvenate. Everything – from the naturally landscaped grounds to the central Chihuly glass sculpture, the locally sourced cuisine to the botanically infused Umstead Spa products – is designed to stir the senses and inspire. And inspire it did!

From the sweet peach tea that greeted us in the lobby to the friendly staff to the warm natural elegance of the décor, it was right up my alley. And they know how to treat every guest like family, y’all! When we walked into our gorgeous lake-view suite, we were overwhelmed with the size of the room (so perfect for the wedding party to get ready or just for a couple to relax in) and then I squealed when I saw what was waiting on the desk…

A box of hand-crafted artisan chocolates and a lavender eye pillow with a luxurious bath soak. They gift this to all of their brides as well. What a treat! But, the best part for me was the adorable little stuffed bird that accompanied the luxurious treats with a note to Grace. Oh my stars, how thoughtful! Naturally, it is now one of her favorite toys.

They had even set up an adorable crib for Grace in the room with the best view in house! This, plus many other touches during our stay, were sure signs of a property that truly embodies what it means to be gracious and giving. Being surrounded by those two qualities on your big day is truly priceless.

We had our sweet nanny Susan babysit Grace in the room (Susan said Grace’s smile was a mile wide when she saw the giant bath she’d be playing in that night) while we enjoyed a phenomenal six-course meal at The Umstead’s signature restaurant, Heron’s.

As a Florida girl who grew up on the water, the heron has long been one of my favorite birds. Tall and graceful, we’d sit out as a family and watch them careful wade in the water in search of the best fish to eat.

I could write a book about our meal, but to avoid making you all salivate on your keyboards, here are just a few highlights: heirloom tomatoes with parmesan ice cream (!!) and bacon (!!!)… OK, need I say more? The food was divine!

One of my favorite things about Heron’s is that they have a resident culinary farmer who cultivates and gathers produce from local farms for the chefs to use. I would love to meet her and follow her for a day. What a lovely job to have!

I now see why so many friends have enjoyed anniversaries and life celebrations here. There were at least three couples in the dining area with us that were there for anniversaries. The food is amazing, the service perfection and the atmosphere is ultra-romantic with warm golden lighting and old jazz standards cooing softly as people dine.

I could also see why people travel in to have weddings here. It’s truly a hidden gem. We were 15 minutes from my house and I felt like we were across an ocean at a secluded retreat. Ari and I will definitely be back next year to celebrate 7 years of marriage.

After an indulgent and delightful meal talking about our marriage and the blessings of the past year with Grace, we settled in to sleep in the plush bed. A+ for comfort, y’all! I felt like we were at home.

The next morning, after some fun time playing around with Gracie in her “fort” – i.e. the covers – we went to the gym (another A+ from the former personal trainer gym rat here!).

Post-gym, I had the pleasure of enjoying a massage at the spa. Let me rephrase that… the spaaaaaaaahhhhhh. Oh, it was so good! Ari and Grace headed off to the gorgeous pool for some daddy/daughter swim time while I drifted off into a state of spaaaahhh bliss.

I’ve had the pleasure of touring and enjoying a lot of spas over the years through the hospitality industry. (Yes, major job perk.) The Umstead is my new happy place. With natural stone and beautiful furnishings, streaming natural light in the gigantic showers and steam room area and dozens of treatment rooms, the spa is something out of a dream and quite huge. I had no idea something like this existed in the South, much less 15 minutes from my house. I sipped on hibiscus tea, munched on spa snacks and took some much-needed deep breaths. It was lovely. As a bride, I’d be on cloud nine to spend my pre-wedding hours here. In fact, I saw a bridal party getting a tour of the spa while I was there and they were positively giddy! Most definitely a recipe for zero wedding day stress!

After the spa, I reunited with the cutest 9-month-old on the planet in her little cute bathing suit and her handsome daddy and took a quick tour of the property. Besides the 12 acres of gorgeous wooded land and natural surroundings, including a beautiful ceremony lawn that overlooks the lake, the property boasts some of the most beautiful ballrooms I’ve ever seen! I’m such a fan of outdoor ceremonies, but I have to say I’d have a hard time choosing at The Umstead.

The ballrooms are beautifully decorated (even the carpet, y’all!) and the golden fabric-paneled walls had me swooning. The hallways are decked with local artwork and the ceilings are taller than oaks. Any combination of outdoor beauty and ballroom elegance would make for an unforgettable beginning to married life.

After our inspiring property tour, we [sadly] packed up to head home. We’ll be back for a visit soon again, for sure! Huge thanks to the gracious Umstead staff for hosting us!

I’d love to hear from our local brides. Have you visited The Umstead? What did you love most?

Even more exciting though is the celebrations we have today in the office!  Emily Alice, our wonderful summer intern, and Nicole, who you all know and love, share a birthday today!  Between the shoot excitement and celebrating these two amazing ladies, I think my heart my just burst today.  So…. SURPRISE LADIES!  We’re headed to Mapleview Farm in 10 minutes to go get ice cream to celebrate : )  With one day left in National Ice Cream month, we must get a move on!  HAPPY BIRTHDAY Y’ALL!!!  WE LOVE YOU!  – Lara, Emily A, Marissa, Emily Ley and Gracie : )

Hi y’all! I had to hack into our regular posting schedule to write this little surprise note about a very special belle in our office. The soon-to-be Mrs. Emily A Thomas has been with us here at Southern Weddings for three years today. And, oh, what a beautiful three years it has been! Don’t let her “Creative Director” title fool you as she has done every job under the sun in our tiny little company to make us soar. From crafting the perfect words to hauling buckets and buckets of flowers and linens to shoots to dreaming up the prettiness you see here every day and in print to caring deeply for our vendors and brides to hunting for the best content in the South to baking us cupcakes (the woman can bake y’all!), Emily is a one-of-a-kind gal with a very big heart.

Truly, I don’t know where we’d be without her.  She has changed everything and continues to push us to grow and stay rooted in what matters most.  So, I had to take a moment to invite you all to celebrate her with me.  She makes our world a happier, prettier more inspiring place… a place where magnolias, banjos, biscuits and family shine bright.  Happy three year Southern Weddings anniversary and thank you from ALL of us!  Love, Lara

Images: Love Life Images, Gina Zeidler

1. Knot bracelets from Etsy seller, Pardes, as favors for the ladies.  2. A gift for the bride to be!  A nautical necklace with her new last name initial.  3. Beautiful watercolor bunting invites via 100 Layer Cake.  4. Custom sea-inspired cookies from Glorious Treats.  5. Classic nautical decor via Martha.  6. A preppy pretty nautical tote from Ann Taylor for the bride-to-be!  7. A sunset cruise on a beautiful boat with blue pillows. Source unknown.  8.  Nautical knot lapel pins for the gents as they board the ship photographed by Stacey Kane via The Knot.  9. Blue stripe drink stirrers for lemonade on the boat created by Miss Emily herself  10. Mini fish tacos from Peter Callahan via Brides.

Whitney…. oh, hello tears again… I love you, beautiful lady.  Thank you for being a true friend and for giving your all to our dear brides here and for working your tail off to make all of our lives happier every day.  You are a remarkable woman.  You’ve weathered so much over these last four years that I’ve known you and you’ve grown faster than kudzu on a corn patch.  I will sincerely miss seeing your smiling face here every day.  We all will.  But, you have great paths ahead and so much joy waiting for you in that big city.  You will be fabulous.  There’s no other option.  It’s just who you are.  Warm, witty, resilient, charming and full of Southern spark.   Dear NYC, I’m jealous that you will have Miss Davis soon to make your world a little brighter.   W.E.D (best initials ever!), thank you, to the moon an back, for four years of your very best.  The best is yet to come…  xo Lara

A little love from all of us…


My dear Whitney,  I can still remember seeing your face for the first time in an SW blog post (before I came to work here!)… and thinking you were 25.  Though it turned out I was WAY off on your age, it seems appropriate – you have always possessed a maturity, strength, and graciousness beyond your years.  In the almost three years that we’ve known each other, you have only grown into a more wonderful person.  You have a knack for making everyone feel at ease and welcome, you’re quite stylish, and you’re an extremely hard worker.  I have been so lucky to call you a colleague, and I know that your future co-workers will feel the same way — and that they, too, will quickly call you a friend.  I can’t wait to hear all about your Big Apple adventures!!  Much love, Emily

Dear Whitney, I am so sad to be writing this goodbye to you, but SO incredibly excited for you at the same time! I know that you will be amazing, and brighten everyone’s day that you meet! I will: however, miss a long list of things about you. Not limited to: laughing until my stomach hurts while making (ripping) tissue poms, sending thousands of emails back and forth, getting dressed in lobby bathrooms, riding in cabs with crazy drivers, gushing over gorgeous wedding gowns (and trying them on!), Pinkberry at midnight, you rocking red lipstick at the Ace Hotel, and most importantly my PIC! And I had to narrow this list down!  I am so grateful to call you my friend, and I cannot wait to come visit you in New York! I officially call dibs on your couch!  SO much love,   Marissa

Whitney dearest, there are so many things I want to say to you! Before I even met you, I knew you had some fierce drive and ambition. Seeing you move to New York and making your dreams come true (cheesiness not intended) was like the cherry on top of all the wonderful things I already think of you. I admire you so much for not only being passionate about every task and project you undertake, but for being a lovely person and a great friend. When I finally met you two years ago while we were both working at a wedding, I was so happy to have met another person who was sweet, smart and funny! You are incredibly easy to talk to, and I’m forever grateful for the endless advice and encouragement you’ve given me. I refuse to let our bonding over coffee and baked goods and jokes in the office end! Expect texts, tweets, emails, Skype calls and smoke signals coming from the SW office as I update you on the funny proposal stories we get, wedding madness and of course, if I ever meet a boy from the J-School. I know for a fact that whatever the next few months and years bring to you, you will knock everyone out of the water, take on the world with a smile on your face and still be that wonderful, down-to-earth girl I met two years ago.  Also, let’s please meet again soon so we can bake macaroons! You do know I’m coming to visit you in New York, right?  So much love and coffee and Kate Spade,  Nic

Needless to say, you will be missed Miss Davis.  Don’t forget to always over-sweeten your tea and teach every cabbie you meet that very important word… y’all.  We love you!!!!!  And now, a little trip down memory lane…. (break out the tissues, y’all!!!)

Special extra birthday love from some people who love you dearly…


Happy Birthday Emily! I hope your day is every bit as fabulous as you are! I know that this year is going to be a truly great one for you, enjoy! – Amber


For my beautiful sister Emily, I share with you these wishes for your birthday: First, I hope that today, of all days, you realize how very loved you are. Second, I hope that in September you experience the happy and beautiful continuation of your love story, and know that it will be perfect no matter what. Third, I wish for you many sunny and sea-filled days in Maine, Trains and Catan to help you laugh, challenges to help you grow, late night conversations to bring us closer, and that our family remains at the very core of our lives. I hope this year brings you happiness and laughter, challenges and the strength to overcome them, sadness to make you appreciate the happy days, and, most of all, love, because you deserve it more than anyone I know. Finally, I hope we continue to only grow closer to each other and to God, together. We are so different, but I love you so very much. Happy birthday, Emilia, you deserve a wonderful one. – Kim


Happy birthday, Em! You have incredible talents, and I love that you’re always willing to share them. I’m proud to call you my sister. I hope this year is better than you can even imagine. Love, Kate


And one last birthday wish from your husband-to-be!

Marissa is also an amazing encouraging friend. I love you so much, M. God is so good to bring you into our lives! We’re all happier every day because of you. We wish you another beautiful year full of laughter and happiness… and lots of Lilly and monograms!


Love,


Lara, Emily, Emily, Sierra, Nicole, Whitney and Baby Grace!


images by Millie Holloman

Southern Weddings Staff Meeting Updates! from lara casey on Vimeo.

The wonderful SW ladies will fill you in when Grace arrives and you can always stay posted on my personal blog, daily tumblr and twitter. Wishing you a wonderful holiday season ahead!

If you are new around these parts, welcome! We’re so glad to have you and hope you’ll sit a spell with us. If you just picked up your first copy of Southern Weddings on newsstands this week or got one of our many pre-orders via the hilarious and hard-workin’ SWPS, you may know there is a little biscuit in my oven. I’ve reached the nine-months mark, so Baby Grace is set to arrive any day now! The current view from my desk…

I’m about to set off into maternity leave land, so I just wanted to take a moment to say thank you! As a tiny office, all of your warm words and encouragement really do mean the world to us. We truly love y’all and love dreaming up new fun things to inspire your big day plans! There are so many exciting things in the works while I’m on maternity leave. Emily, Whitney, Marissa, Nicole and Sierra have all sorts of Southern surprises in store!

Photo above by my dear friend, Nancy Ray. It’s been a blessed nine months, y’all! And this week, feeling so much love from you all about our office baby, V4, has been the cherry on top! The wonderful SW ladies will fill you in when Grace arrives and you can always stay posted on my personal blog, daily tumblr and twitter. Thank you to the moon and back!

Huge thanks again to everyone who made V4 happen.  We can’t wait to share all of the goodness with you when V4 launches on newsstands October 25th!  Want to win the first copy of V4, hot off the press?  Enter to win HERE.  Want your copy delivered right to your door?  Pre-order V4 HERE.  Happy Thursday, y’all!

Emily, Sierra, Marissa, Nicole, Whitney and I have been hard at work here in the SW office over the last two weeks putting all the finishing touches on this issue.  It’s been a very exciting adventure!   But, even though we’re excited, the work isn’t over yet.   A little behind-the-scenes info for you…

Right now, we’re uploading the final files to the printer.  They get the files and make “color proofs” from them, which are giant sheets with several pages printed on each (about 16).  They’ll mail us these giant sheets likely on Friday, and then we get to the hard work of proofing them.  This means we check everything with a fine tooth comb to be sure all the color is perfect and everything is just right.  Even the tiniest change means we need to see another color proof, so the pressure is on!  Once we finally approve all the files, we send them off to print, likely late next week.  Printing takes about two weeks, shipping takes two weeks to go to warehouses all over the country and then to your local bookstores and then, voila!  V4 launches on October 25!  …just days before I have my first baby : )  Such an exciting time here!

We are so thrilled to share all the goodness with you in a few short weeks when Southern Weddings V4 hits newsstands nationwide.  Be sure to pre-order your copy so you get all the goodness right to your doorstep.

Whitney, Happy birthday, fab, fab lady! I’m so glad I get to see your pretty face in the office more. You’re intelligent, savvy, and stylish and I’m glad we get to work together! I hope this year brings you lots of Starbucks and happiness! Let’s celebrate over cupcakes soon! – Nicole


Happy Birthday Whit! I hope your year is full of hilarious fits of laughter, lots of monogramming and fabulous date nights with Scott! I’m so proud of you and know you have such incredibly awesome things ahead in your life!  Wishing you the happiest of birthdays! Love,  Marissa


Dear Whitney, Happy, happy birthday!  For someone as young as you, it is sometimes astonishing to me how mature, kind, poised, and talented you really are.  It has been a joy to spend another year working by your side, and especially to see you take over the advertising reins with such success and aplomb.  I hope you had the most wonderful, relaxing weekend and have some fabulous birthday sweet lined up for tonight! xo Emily


Whitney, Happy Birthday girl! I hope you have the most wonderful day today! A three-day weekend isn’t too bad for a birthday celebration, huh? Working with you more often over the summer has truly been a joy. You have exceeded everyone’s expectations working your advertising magic, and we cannot wait to see the issue you have put so much hard work into. You rock! Sierra


Whitney, where do I even begin!?  Knowing you for so long now and seeing you grow into the joyful, beautiful, giving, happy woman you are today has been such a gift.  You bless us all with your zest for life and your unwavering determination.  I’m so grateful to have you on this team, but more so to have you in my life.  Thank you for always being such a great encouragement and cheerleader to so many.  You are a remarkable woman, Whitney Davis.  We’re all happier people every day because of you!  Wishing you the best birthday ever.  You deserve the moon and stars, WED!  Love, Lara


Whit, we love you so very much and are so grateful for you.  Y’all go leave her some twitter love today, too!  Yeehaw!!!

2.  My grandmother, a true Southern belle from Alabama, is one of my favorite people on earth.  She’s a redhead, too, and feisty at that!  Grandma “Bunny” will be 94 this December.  I just talked to her and she told me to tell all of y’all hello and it’s wonderful to meet you here on this blog.  She doesn’t know what a blog is, but I told her it’s a place on the internet where all of my favorite friends read about pretty weddings and wonderful love stories.

3.  I used to be a personal trainer.   And at one point, I could deadlift 225lbs.   Useless skill, but fun to intimidate my male clients in the gym.

4.  There is an elbow in my rib.  No, really.  And a foot in my belly.  I’m due with my first baby – Grace Austin – in about 11 weeks!

Photo by Nancy Ray

5.  I’ve been eating the same breakfast almost every day (with the exception of about a dozen days) for the last 15 years.  Jay Robb protein powder and oatmeal.  It never gets old to me!  And I probably eat more Luna Bars than is legal.  I should be their spokeswoman.

6.  I am really bad at trivia.  Or anything to do with pop culture.  We cancelled our cable a while ago and I generally rely on my husband to tell me about current events.  Don’t ask me to name a band or pop star.  I’d lose.

9.  I still don’t know who goes first at a four way stop.  I usually just wait for someone to go first or give me a funny look and pause awkwardly, telling me to go.

10. I genuinely love my job and couldn’t dream up a better group of women to work with every day. I pinch myself every day! Oh my stars, these ladies are the real deal – kind, genuine, hard-working and fiercely devoted to you, dear readers!


Read more about Lara here, here and here!


P.S. Still time to get your gorgeous ad in our next print edition! Email Whitney ASAP for last-minute availability!

A few favorites from past meetings: sweet tea (naturally), Cheerwine, peach ice cream, fresh baked biscuits with peach jam, fresh local berries and honey, MoonPies, pecan pie, Krispy Kreme (born and raised in NC!) and, among many other favorites, cornbread muffins and Carolina blue cupcakes.   Yum!

Next, we dream up all sorts of goodness for y’all. This starts with everyone giving an update on what they are working on.

So, we start our meeting yesterday and everyone is a bit sleepy from the holiday weekend.   After asking for a volunteer to go first with updates and no takers, Emily gladly says “I have an update!”…. and PULLS HER HAND OUT FROM UNDER THE TABLE WITH AN ENGAGEMENT RING ON IT!!!!!! The room erupted in squealing, jumping (I must have touched the ceiling!) and a pile of hugs all at once!  I’ll let Emily tell you all the details, of course, but needless to say we had a hard time focusing on anything after that!   Emily, we love you and are so happy for you! Don’t get me started again. You’ll have to break out the tissues!  I am over-the-moon happy for Em + John!  Oh my stars! And hello… how cute is this!?

So, in honor of Emily’s engagement, today’s post is all about true love through the ages.  Emily and John have a love that will last and inspire so many, so I couldn’t think of a better occasion to start this feature!

I spent the holiday weekend in Florida with my family and got a chance to capture some of our family wedding pics of old. Every photograph you see here has a beautiful love story behind it.  Above is my great grandparent’s marriage certificate from their tiny 1909 Alabama wedding!  Wow, what a beautiful document!  My great grandparents were farmers and cared for 8 children, including my Grandpa Cecil.

Grandma Bunny + Grandpa Cecil’s wedding above.  They were married in the local church and then celebrated at the Austin family home in Monroeville, Alabama.  My Grandma’s secret to a happy marriage: “Be sweet to each other!  Do kind things, love each other tenderly every day and appreciate the little things.  Cecil used to bring me wildflowers with my coffee.”

My Grandma Betty’s wedding portraits above.  Hello gorgeous!  Who wouldn’t want stunning classic photographs like this!?  This truly takes my breath away.  Grandma Betty passed long before I was born, but I can only imagine what wonderful stories she would tell about this special day!

And finally, my parent’s sweet garden wedding above.  Their secret to a happy marriage as per my mom: “Laugh together, have adventures, love unconditionally and get out and dig in the garden together!”

GET FEATURED! We want to know your family love stories of old! We’ll be highlighting one special couple every week. So, send us your old family photos and a little bit about their love story or their Southern wedding. If you can, interview your parents, grandparents or great grandparents! Here are a few helpful questions to use:

Tell us about your Southern wedding. What was most memorable about it?

What was your favorite detail of the wedding?

What is your best marriage advice?

Send a pic and either this interview above or a little blip about their love story to Marissa with the subject line: VINTAGE LOVE. I can’t wait to see what y’all send in!

P.S. Congrats to the last post’s winners Natalie, Amanda R, Lori and Linden!  Send us your mailing address and we’ll get your cute heart and love sparklers right to you!

P.P.S. Congrats again to our very own Emily! My heart be still! I’m so excited!

This week, I want to know about the moment you first felt those heart explosions with The One… the moment you just knew that this was going to be forever.  The kind of fireworks that take your breath away and sweep you off your feet.  You know what I mean, friends!   It’s a feeling inside our gut that says, “This is IT!” Maybe it was a first date when he opened all the doors for you and you locked eyes… fireworks!  Maybe it was having him meet your mom for the first time and hearing their laughter together… fireworks!  Maybe it was that time he cared for you when you were so sick you couldn’t get out of bed.  He tried to make you a comforting grilled cheese – just like your mom used to do – and he maaaaay have burned it.  But, somehow it was the greatest meal you’ve ever had… fireworks!  Perhaps it was that time he knew just what to say just when you needed it most… FIREWORKS!  Photo below by Caroline Ghetes.

For me, it was when Ari met my dad.  They were two peas in a pod.  I knew I found a keeper!  Just five months after meeting, we were married.  In Vegas, no less.  And here we are over five years later with a little Biscuit in my oven, happy as two bees in a honeysuckle field!  Whatever those fireworks were for you, fill us in, ladies!  How did you know? Spill the beans! Photo below by Benj Haisch.

GIVEAWAY: Four (yes, 4!) lucky winners will get one of our favorite Fab Finds from our last issue: heart or love sparklers from Tops Malibu!  Just leave a comment telling us about those heart explosions.

P.S. Congrats to last post’s winner, Amanda Noel.  Oh wow, all of the comments on that post were so inspiring!  I can’t wait for all of your weddings!  Amanda, email us your mailing address and we’ll get your gorgeous Paloma’s Nest Ring Bearer Bowl right to you.

Wishing you all a lifetime of fireworks ahead and a fantastic weekend under these gorgeous Southern skies!

Soon after, the house is filled with the divine smell of brewing Southern dewberries and friends and family are happily enjoying a delicious Mason-jar-housed treat on biscuits and toast.   I’ll let mom tell you, though.  She tells the story of the dewberry best…

As the days begin to warm from the chill of winter, small soft white flowers appear oddly out of place in their surroundings.  Fragile circles of rose-like petals, tinged with pink, pop up among the craggy vines and brown grasses.  Anchored low to the ground, the blossoms flutter gently in the breezes.  The message is simple.  Spring is not far away; the dewberries are blooming.  But the message is also rich and vivid, interlaced with memories of wild dewberry patches of the past, the carefree abandon of childhood, and the traditions making cobbler and jam.

Growing up in the South, we picked dewberries every spring.  The southern dewberry, Rubus trivialis, is a member of the rose family and a close relative of the blackberry.  Abounding with tiny thorns, the low trailing vines intertwine and entangle themselves and everything that grows among them.  As the flowers fade, the hard green berries begin to appear.  Over the next month, they turn red and tart, finally swelling quickly as they ripen into a shiny deep black burgundy. Although commonly referred to as blackberries, dewberries usually ripen several weeks earlier in May, and are larger, juicier and sweeter. Eaten by birds that spread their seeds, they grow wild along the roadways, in fields and empty lots, almost anywhere.  The naked berry is picked by rolling it slightly away from the stem, keeping it from being crushed and leaving the bud stem on the vine.  You can count on having purple tattooed fingertips and the lingering sting of tiny thorns.  A just picked dewberry, musty and sweet, and warm from the sun releases a burst of juice and a flood of memories.

When I pick the berries, I think of my dad.  One of seven children and the son of an Alabama sharecropper, he delighted in the local gifts of nature – scuppernongs, huckleberries, mayhaws and dewberries.  I can hear his voice warning me to watch out for snakes.  “You know that the snakes wait for the birds that come to eat the berries.”  Although I have never seen a snake in the berry patch, I still heed his advice. He taught me to carry a stick and make some noise in the vines – a prelude warning of our presence.  We would move about slowly and cautiously, not only to avoid a surprise snake sighting, but quick movements in the low thorny vines could painfully ensnare an ankle. With itchy stained hands, bug bitten and sunburned, we quickly forgot these hazards as we proudly admired our baskets of shiny berries.

My mother’s cobbler in the oven filled the house with fragrant drafts of warm, sweet dewberries baking under a blanket of tender spoon crust.  Another supper dessert would be fresh berries and whipped cream – simple, elegant, perfect.  And of course, there was jam, lots of jam. Tricky to make with just the right consistency, not too thin and not too firm, the jam was allowed to thicken naturally.  A mixture of ripe and under ripe red berries and an entire chopped lemon would provide the needed natural pectin.  Sealed in hot glass jars, stacked and beautiful, the sweet dewberries would last throughout the year.

It is that comforting ritual of jam and cobbler making that I continue in my kitchen today.  From the sightings of the first blooms, to the memories of past berry patches, the dewberry, gleaned with both fear and pleasure transforms me to the vestiges of my childhood.  The vivid memories of the past blend with the present.  As a child in the dewberry patch, I’m still there.  I never left.

Our pantry eagerly awaits new jars of dewberry jam from mom every year.  When Ari was deployed, the sweet little dewberry even made it’s way to Iraq in a care page or two!  If Ari and I ever did a vow renewal, you can guess what would be a part of our celebration.  There are dozens of empty Mason jars lining our cabinets now, all still ripe with memories of each season we enjoyed their contents.  If you saw a Mason jar on my wedding tables, this story would go right along with them.  There is a history that makes my heart sing!  There is a “meaning behind the Mason”.

There is nothing I love more in a wedding than seeing an authentic love story come to life through every photograph – from the love in the couples’ eyes to the special details that reflect their unique path.    No random pretties just because they are pretty.  No details just for detail sake.   Not to pick on the poor Mason jar, but we see them too often used as… here come my least favorite words… a wedding “trend” with no meaning.  Southern brides, you know what I mean!  Mason jars aren’t “vintage”, they are part of our history.  Our aunts and grandmothers and great grandmothers spent long hours in the kitchen canning to preserve the harvest crop through winter.  What a delightful history that little jar has!  When a wedding is infused with history, tradition and special meaning behind those little touches, your love is center-stage.  Magic happens on the big day!  Your guests are transported, inspired and you become closer to your nearest and dearest through the celebration of your wedding.  Your wedding tells your authentic love story and you create memories that you will never ever forget.  [P.S. - if anyone knows where that lovely photo above is from, can you let me know?  I would love to credit this beauty!]

So, what is your love story and how are you telling it in your special details?  Perhaps it’s as simple as using the same flower variety that your mother had in her bouquet or having your maids in Carolina Blue for your alma mater where you and your sweetie spent your first years of courtship.  Perhaps it’s a little photo locket tied to your bouquet with pics of those closest to your heart, cupcakes baked from your aunt’s favorite recipe, a favorite fabric you found on a romantic weekend trip to Savannah with your man (that special trip when he first said the three special words… I love you!) on your cake table or a special love quote on your programs that your grandmother always echoed.   Perhaps it’s the simple Mason jar… the same jars that were once filled with the poetic and perfect dewberry that are now filled with daffodils from your mother’s garden.  Whatever it is, tell your beautiful love story in the details.  Have fun with it and you may even get to know something new about your fiance and families in the process! [photo above source]

GIVEAWAY: Sound off!  Tell us about some of your special wedding details and the meaning behind them.  One lucky commenter will win a beautiful Ring Bearer Bowl from Paloma’s Nest!  This beautiful bowl is sure to become a family heirloom that you can pass to your kids one day, too!


P.S. Congrats to the last post’s Father of the Bride gushfest winner Courtney Christian.  All of your comments made my heart melt…  OK OK!…  there were some tears shed, too!  Email us your mailing address, Courtney, and we’ll get your prize right to you.

Aaaaand let the Father of the Bride gushfest ensue!  Best. Movie. Ever.  I may have seen it more times than the years I’ve been on earth.  I’m 31, y’all.  I love this movie.  I know you love it, too.  Don’t try to deny it.  I know you still watch it with the same belly laughs about Franck’s hilarious dialogue as I do!

Franck Eggelhoffer: Uh-oh, I bring the wrong color thread. I assumed you’d be wearing a black “tuxado.”
George: It is a black “tuxado.”
Franck Eggelhoffer: I don’t think so, babe. This tux is “nuffy” blue. No doubt about it.
George: What’re you talking about? Armani doesn’t make a blue tuxedo.
Franck Eggelhoffer: Armani don’t also make “polyaster.”

Haha! Love the 1950′s version with Spencer Tracy and Elizabeth Taylor, too!

In the South, we all know the typical story of the overbearing dad who pulls out the foreboding shotgun when the boyfriend comes to ask for your hand in marriage.  Dads can be overprotective, but deep down there is some love as wide as Texas behind that shotgun facade!  As Father’s Day draws closer, I get a little sentimental about my dear dad.  He taught me to ride a bike, how to make a three-point turn for my driving test (Well, the second time around he taught me that. I failed my driving test the first time because he forgot that part in my lessons! Ha!), how to bake muffins (Yep, Dad can bake a mean blueberry bran!), how to swim, what the word “conundrum” means as well as many other vocabulary beauties, how to pick Alabama blueberries, how to dream BIG, work hard and go after what’s true to my heart every single day, how to throw a ball better than the neighborhood boys, and – among a million other things – how important true love really is.  OK, blame the prego hormones, but I’m already getting teary writing this post!  Love this below from Amelia Lyon.  What a moment!

One of my favorite moments in a wedding is the Father-Daughter dance.  It’s dad’s (or step-dad’s, or big brother’s, or whoever is giving you away!) chance to shine and have a moment all to himself with you.  A moment of honor and love.  Like you two are the only hearts in the room.  I fell head over heels for this image below from Palos Studio.  Wow.

So, how are you honoring the special father figures in your life on the big day, or what did you do? A first dance?  A special gift?  Is he walking you down the aisle?  Do you have a special family tradition that you are incorporating for dad into the wedding?  A favorite song?  A reading he is doing?  Is he wearing a special tie or flower? One of my favorite photographs below from Katharine’s wedding shot by Bryan Johnson:

GIVEAWAY: In honor of Father’s Day, were giving away a copy of none other than Father of the Bride…  on DVD, not the VHS version I watched back in the day a million times!  Just weigh in here and tell us what you are doing to honor that special dad, step-dad, uncle, big bro or honorary gentleman that you love so dearly. Happy Father’s Day week, y’all!

P.S. Congrats to last post’s winners Brittany M, Ashley B and Cheryl E!  Email us your mailing address and we’ll get your prizes right to you!

Yesterday, one of her sweet caregivers gave her a hand-crafted flag case for my grandfather’s memorial flag that was given to him when he passed away. We all cried such grateful tears as we remembered grandpa and so many who have bravely served.

On this Memorial Day, I am overwhelmed with gratitude for the men and women who have served and are serving our country every day.  Dad (Vietnam) and Ari (Iraq), I love you so much.  Thank you! Our wedding photo below with Ari in his dress whites…

A special thanks today to all of our servicemen and women for their sacrifices!

This image from V3, shot by Paul Johnson, mirrors exactly how I’d want to feel on the big day: carefree and exceedingly joyful!

And when the party starts going, I’d want to feel like there’s no place in the world I’d rather be – surrounded by the people I love – having the time of my life! Photo by Poser.

GIVEAWAY: This week’s giveaway is sure to make you feel calm and relaxed on the big day.  I am a huge fan of these delicious candles from Illume.

The scent of Southern gardenia, star jasmine or sweet rhubarb wafting through the house as you get ready?  Yes, please!  Three lucky winners will get Illume candles for their big day prep (or to just set the mood for a romantic dinner with your sweetie!). 

To enter, simply tell us what you want you wedding day to feel like!

It’s so easy to go through the motions.  So, break out of them and plan little dates and adventures during your engagement.  Just when you find yourself getting into a spat over where Uncle Bob is going to sit at the reception, get outside and get some fresh air!  If buttercream vs. fondant has you in a bind, it’s time to do something fun that will remind you of why you are planning this wedding in the first place.  Fall in love all over again. Get back to the heart of the wedding and have some fun together! 

I was so taken by Katie and Michael’s engagement session, photographed by my good friend Bryan Johnson.  Emily wrote this week about how we all love a real engagement session here at SW.  Nothing too styled or prepared.  Just a couple being themselves – relaxed, happy and authentically joyful – in an environment that tells their unique love story.  You can feel the love in these images, shot at Katie’s family farm in Chelsea, Alabama.

What’s so captivating about these photographs is that you forget there is a photographer there taking them.  Katie and Michael are just enjoying being in love.  Definitely an afternoon I wouldn’t forget.

Erin left this great advice on my last post: A girlfriend at work often says that there’s a difference between the girls who want a wedding and the girls who want a marriage. Exactly!  So, my challenge to you this week: stop planning your wedding for just a moment and plan a marriage. Get out and do something fun together!

If fishing isn’t your cup of tea, there are plenty of great Southern activities this season to get you out of wedding stress mode.  A few of my favorites this time of year here in the South: strawberry picking, a mini weekend trip to a favorite spot like one of these, hiking, rafting, making jam from said strawberries (yum!)…

…a trip to one of my favorite childhood spots Peach Park (the Chilton County peaches are ripe and perfect right now), making peach ice cream (thanks, mom, for the great article!), a simple picnic complete with some Georgia muscadine wine and hot boiled peanuts…

…an adventurous trip to one of Roadside America’s unique attractions and Southern oddities (just take a look at Georgia’s list!), a simple afternoon on the porch with some sweet tea, horseback riding, BBQ, camping, cornhole….

… and last but certainly not least, when all else fails, get in your bathing suit and crank up the sprinklers just like you did when you were a kid!  Trust me, your neighbors will be jealous!

Stop planning for a minute and go have an adventure this week!  Linen and floral decisions can wait a few days. Your wedding will be 1000x more enjoyable – and more meaningful – if you spend the time leading up to it falling in love all over again every. single. day. 

GIVEAWAY! One lucky couple will get one of my very favorite fab finds from V3, two custom luggage tags from Of The Fountain. How fun are these!?

Perfect for all of your adventures ahead!

TO ENTER: Leave a comment here telling me about your favorite Southern activities.  Bonus points if you go do one of them in the next week with your sweetie!

P.S. Congrats to Katie and Michael who were married just a couple weeks ago!  Wishing you blessings on your marriage and many more dates on the farm ahead!